Kempsey Surrounds

This is an older community where 25.1% of people are aged 65 or over, a figure well above the national average. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is also much higher than most areas at 8.1%, which has risen since 2011.

The area is predominantly Australian-born, with only 8.8% of people born overseas, which is far below the state and national figures. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.

English is the main language spoken here, with 88.8% of residents using it exclusively. Only 2.8% of people use another language at home, a rate far below the national figure.

Many residents identify as having no religion, accounting for 41.2% of the community. This figure has risen by 20 percentage points since 2011 and is well above the state average.

Education levels are lower than in most areas, with only 12.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Just 35.9% of residents completed Year 12, though this is an improvement since 2011.

Typical incomes are much lower than the national figure, with a typical household earning $1,160 a week. Only 8.9% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is far below the state average.

Health challenges are common here, as 33.3% of people have a long-term health condition. This is well above the national figure, and 7.3% of residents need help with daily activities.

Community support is strong, with 15.0% of people providing unpaid care, among the highest rates for similar areas. Additionally, 26.7% of residents do 15 or more hours of unpaid housework weekly.

First Nations people make up a significant part of the community, but they face challenges, including an unemployment rate of 16.5% and lower typical personal incomes compared to other areas.

Household structures vary, with 28.0% of people living alone and 17.3% of families being one-parent households, which is much higher than most areas.

Housing is mostly separate houses, making up 94.0% of dwellings. A large majority of residents own their homes outright—51.8%—which is far above the national average.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, as only 0.3% of people commute by public transport. Most homes have at least one vehicle, and 38.6% have two.

The population is relatively stable, with only 30.3% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national average. Recent overseas arrivals account for 8.9% of the community.

Working rates are much lower than in most areas, with only 49.7% of adults working or looking for work. Common industries include health care, social assistance, and agriculture.

Overall advantage is low, with a score of 2 compared to other areas. This is reflected in the community's limited access to money and resources.

The region is wet and warm, with an average annual rainfall of 1,034mm, which is far above the New South Wales average.

The area is mostly car-dependent with a low walkability score of 2.4. Very few homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services or groceries compared to the state average.